Chris Grayling MP, Epsom and Ewell voted for the referendum on introducing the alternative vote system for electing MPs to be held on the 5th May 2011 irrespective of clashes with local and devolved parliament elections.

The majority of MPs voted against a proposal to allow a minister to set the date of the referendum on introducing the alternative vote system for electing MPs so long as the date doesn't coincide with elections for "any parliamentary assembly or regularly held local government election".

The proposed amendment which was the subject of this vote would have left out line 6 in the original Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill [1] which stated the referendum:

must be held on 5 May 2011.

and replace it with the referendum:

shall be held on a date specified in an order made by the Minister, provided that such date:

(a) shall not coincide with any poll or polls held for any parliamentary assembly or regularly held local government election; and

(b) shall be at least six months after the commencement of the referendum period (as specified in Schedule 1).

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